Guru Nanak ji's Parkash Purb
Celebration at
India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas on Richmond’s Highway to Heaven
Los Angeles, Nov 14, 2022
NRIpress.club/Balwant Sanghera/ Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
Guru Nanak Dev ji, the founder of Sikhism was a great poet, visionary, explorer and revolutionary. His 553rd Parkash Purb was celebrated around the globe with great enthusiasm. Nearly every Gurdwara Sahib in Metro Vancouver welcomed a large number of devotees to pay homage to Guru ji. India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas on Richmond’s Highway to Heaven (aka #5 Road) commenced the celebration of Guru Ji’s Parkash Purb with the beginning of Akhand Paath Sahib on Sunday, November 6. On Tuesday, November 8 the devotees started visiting the Gurdwara Sahib to pay their respects and homage to Guru Nanak Dev ji from early morning. It was a constant flow of devotees throughout the day. By Tuesday evening, the Darbar Hall and the Langar Hall were overflowing with devotees. In the evening after the Bhog and Ardas, this writer and Mr. Ranjit Singh along with the Keertani Jatha shed light on Guru ji’s philosophy and message. In this connection it was great to see the Punjabi School students, under guidance of their teacher Mrs. Shaminderjit Kaur and Kelly Sidhu share a very popular shabad-Kal Taran Guru Nanak Aiya- with the overflowing Darbar Hall congregation.
Guru Nanak Dev ji has made unparalleled contribution to humanity. His universal message of equality, fairness, justice, love and peace is as relevant to-day as it was more than 550 years ago. Guru Nanak Dev ji was a fearless explorer, visionary, revolutionary, poet, mystic and saint. He emphasized that sovereignty belongs to God alone and that God is the ultimate source of authority.
Guru Nanak Dev ji’s three golden principles are excellent guidelines to lead a productive, peaceful and joyful life. Making an honest living, sharing and meditating in the name of God Almighty lead towards a fulfilling life. Guru ji not only preached but also practised these guiding principles. He worked for 14 years at Sultanpur Lodhi before undertaking his travels around the world to convey his message. He visited far flung places to convey his message. After completing his travels lasting 24 years and more than 28,000 kilometers Guru Nanak Sahib decided to settle in Kartarpur Sahib and started farming there. Thus, in addition to making an honest living, he also shared happily with the Sangat in the form of Langar. Thus, he started the concept of Langar which is now very popular worldwide and admired by Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. Nearly every Gurdwara around the globe tries to carry on this tradition of providing free food to the needy.
Guru Nanak Dev ji’s third principle of meditating in the name of God Almighty is fully reflected in the Gurbani. His 974 hymns in Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, all in the praise of God, are a great source of joy for the devotees. Guru Sahib emphasized that the most important attribute for a person is to be a good human being. Guru Nanak Sahib firmly stood for pluralism, diversity, tolerance, peaceful co-existence, equality and social justice. He promoted a balanced life and harmony with Nature. Guru Nanak Dev ji was a genius, a superb teacher and a fearless revolutionary way ahead of his time.
The overflowing Sangat at the Gurdwara Nanak Niwas on Tuesday, November 8 enjoyed listening to the melodious keertan by the jatha of Giani Navdeep Singh, Giani Kuldip Singh and Giani Gurjot Singh. Everybody enjoyed delicious langar sponsored by Mrs. Kashmir Kaur Johal and family. Management Committee of India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas is very thankful to the Sangat, the Johal family and all of the volunteers for making the 553rd Parkash Purb of Guru ji such a great success.
Balwant Singh Sanghera
General Secretary, India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas,
Richmond, BC,Canada
Balwant Sanghera
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Balwant Sanghera